Feb., 23 / -Wisconsin -World Ag Expo is the largest farm equipment show in the world. The exposition offers agriculture's best equipment, technology, products and services

"The year will proudly go down in World Ag Expo history as another sold-out year, and, though we had some rain on Wednesday, a year of huge crowds of visitors," said Chairman Dan Khal. "We are proud of the quality of exhibitors and buyers our show continues to attract in ever-increasing numbers, just as we are proud of the caliber of our 963 Orange Jacket volunteers."

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View the list of International Exhibitors - Click Here

Visitors came in large numbers from around the world. At show’s close, 852 international visitors had registered at the International Business Center, representing 53 countries.

Exhibitors were pleased with the quality of attendees and visitors were fascinated by the new and different technology that the show offers each year.

"We’ve been coming for 10 years and we get a lot of customers from World Ag Expo", said exhibitor Jack Schultz of Tifco Industries. "We generated at least 100 solid leads. This show just keeps getting better and better."

Gary Marsh of ID ology said response to his new product has left him "tickled pink."

"We have had at least 10 leads from buyers just on the first day," Marsh noted. "And, we’ve had visitors from Canada and Sweden."

Exhibitor Marvin Davis calls the show "very, very good" and reported that he has 8 to 10 good leads on his Thomas mini-skid, which sells for $10,000 to $12,000 each. "We did better than I expected to," Davis said.

Attendee David Santos from Los Banos, CA, is "very close" to purchasing a six-row cotton picker, with a list price of $375,000. Santos farms 6,800 acres of cotton, alfalfa, corn, tomatoes, sugar beets, grain and cantaloupes.

Click Here for the photo gallery for the 2003 World Ag Expo!

In addition to equipment sales and research, World Ag Expo was the site of education, through seminars focused on topics such as ag terrorism, methane digesters, trade with Cuba and China and large-herd dairying.

Two delegations came from China – one a group of farm equipment buyers, the other a group of high-ranking government officials – each interested in learning about the latest in ag technology and discussing trade opportunities.

Special presentations during the show included seminars on trade with Cuba, featuring John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council; a breakfast keynote speech by former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta; a seminar with Orion Samuelson, nationally known farm broadcaster; and a luncheon keynote speech by USDA Undersecretary Dr. Joseph Jen.

According to a World Ag Expo economic impact study completed in 2002, the show is big business. An estimated $52 million is generated in direct sales and another $48 million is generated through indirect sales, such as lodging, dining, transportation and rentals.

Management of World Ag Expo had announced expansion plans for the 2004 show and the International Agri-Center has already been flooded with calls from exhibitors wanting to exhibit in the newly available spaces.

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